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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998 05-19 HCM MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOUSING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND STATE OF MINNESOTA REGULAR SESSION MAY 19, 1998 CONFERENCE ROOM B BROOKLYN CENTER CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission was called to order at 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Chairperson Robert Torres, Commissioners James Lano, Christopher Russell, Lloyd Deuel, Ernie Erickson, Michael VonDeLinde, Mark Yelich and Donald Arm. Also present were Council Liaison Bob Peppe, and Community Development Specialist Tom Bublitz. Commissioner Jonathan Carter was absent from the meeting. APPROVAL OF AGENDA There was a motion by Commissioner Erickson and seconded by Commissioner Deuel to approve the agenda as submitted. The motion passed. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MARCH 17, 1998 (REGULAR SESSION) APRIL 21, 1998 (JOINT HOUSING COMMISSION AND CITY COUNCIL) There was a motion by Commissioner Arm and seconded by Commissioner Deuel to approve the March 17, 1998 Housing Commission minutes as submitted. The motion passed. There was a motion by Commissioner Arm and seconded by Commissioner Deuel to approve the April 21, 1998 Housing Commission minutes as submitted. The motion passed. STAFF REPORT ON MINNEAPOLIS HUMBOLDT GREENWAY PROJECT The Community Development Specialist briefly reviewed the history of the Humboldt Avenue Greenway Project and noted that at its inception the project grew out of a theory and supporting evidence that housing values tended to increase around areas with specific amenities such as parkways, greenways, lakes, rivers and other natural or man made amenities. The initial Humboldt project began several years ago and initially included the City of Brooklyn Center up to 57th Avenue North along Humboldt Avenue. The Community Development Specialist pointed out that the County in conjunction with the City 5 -19 -98 -1- of Brooklyn Center and the City of Minneapolis among other agencies, selected a consultant to do a study on how to create a value enhancing amenity for the Humboldt area. The initial consultant was Chan Krieger Architects Incorporated. Chan Krieger developed a planning study which called for redevelopment along with creation of development areas which would be structured around designated wet land areas in existence in the project area. Neighborhood meetings were held in Minneapolis and Brooklyn Center and ultimately Brooklyn Center withdrew from the project. One of the reasons the City of Brooklyn Center did not participate in the Greenway project was that the value of the homes north of 53rd along Humboldt Avenue were significantly greater than many of the homes on the southern portion of Humboldt Avenue in Minneapolis. Commissioner Erickson commented that there was also a great deal of opposition from the Brooklyn Center School District over the potential loss of a significant number of students should housing be eliminated along Humboldt Avenue and possibly other streets in Brooklyn Center. He added that there was also opposition from the Humboldt area neighborhood in Brooklyn Center. He pointed out that the initial concept was to link Victory Memorial Parkway to the newly proposed Humboldt Parkway all the way up to 57th Avenue North in Brooklyn Center. He noted that the current parkway concept of the Humboldt Greenway Project would bring the parkway only as far as 53rd Avenue North along Humboldt. Commissioner Yelich inquired whether the 53rd Avenue project in Brooklyn Center would be linked to the proposed Humboldt Greenway. The Community Development Specialist noted that currently there are no plans to formally link the redevelopment project on 53rd Avenue North in Brooklyn Center to the Humboldt Greenway. It was also noted that the 53rd Avenue development project plat was tabled at the last Planning Commission meeting in deference to Commissioner Opat who is requesting that the houses along 53rd Avenue North face 53rd Avenue as opposed to facing away. Councilmember Peppe noted that the Mayor and City Manager will be meeting with Commissioner Opat tomorrow to discuss this issue. The Commissioners continued their discussion of the Humboldt Greenway project and it was noted that the thrust of the project would include a greenway from approximately 47th Avenue North along Humboldt to 53rd Avenue North with housing proposed for the east side of the greenway. It was noted that additional redevelopment sites such as senior housing could be a part of the redevelopment of the Humboldt Greenway particularly in the southern portion of the site. It was also noted that a parkway concept would be included on 49th Avenue North as a part of the Humboldt Greenway project. The Community Development Specialist noted that it is his understanding that acquisitions of private property have already started in the Humboldt Greenway area and that the goal is to complete the first phase of the project by the year 2000. 5 -19 -98 -2- DISCUSSION ITEM: BUS TOUR OF CITY Commissioner Deuel commented that one of the reasons he is proposing a bus tour of the City is that there are many areas of Brooklyn Center he is not familiar with and as an example cited the 53rd Avenue area where the redevelopment project is currently taking place. He added that he strongly urges the Housing Commission to take a bus tour of the City to look at areas they may not be familiar with. Commissioner Erickson noted an area he is interested in viewing is the old Brookdale 10 Apartment complex now known as Twin Lake Manor. He noted this apartment building has been rehabilitated and he is interested in viewing it. He added that the Housing Commission should be sure and look at areas that have been turned over for the positive. The commission members continued discussing the bus tour and expressed interest in looking at the new construction along 53rd and also any new homes under construction in the City. The Community Development Specialist noted it may be helpful for the commission members to view the various scattered site new construction homes that have been built over the last few years in the City. The Commission continued its discussion and expressed the desire to invite the City's Housing Inspector Janine Atchison and also the City's Community Development Director Brad Hoffman along on the tour. The Commission discussed whether or not they would continue to meet during the summer to finalize items such as the bus tour and Commissioner Yelich stated that he would like to meet through the summer. Commissioner Erickson stated that the Commission could meet in June and perhaps formalize the bus tour for September at that meeting. Councilmember Peppe stated that he would like to see the designs of the 53rd Avenue houses at the June meeting if they are ready at that time. There was a general consensus of commission members that the Commission would plan the tour in June and actually take the bus tour in September. STAFF REPORT ON NORTHWEST HOUSING RESOURCE CENTER The Community Development Specialist explained that the City in conjunction with the cities of Crystal, New Hope and Robbinsdale now has available a resource offered by the Greater Minneapolis Metropolitan Housing Corporation for residents of Brooklyn Center. The Northwest Housing Resource Center provides assistance to homeowners with planning their remodeling or rehabilitation projects, finding low interest financing tools to complete the projects and assists in the entire rehab /remodeling process. Additionally, the Resource Center offers assistance to individuals and families to become new homeowners and makes them aware of first time home buyer programs available in the four cities. 5 -19 -98 -3- The Community Development Specialist noted the Northwest Housing Resource Center has been open since February of 1998 and staff has been referring people to the Center since that time. He noted that if they Housing Commission is interested he could invite a representative from the Northwest Housing Resource Center to a future meeting to discuss the activities at the Center. UPDATE ON TIME OF SALE ORDINANCE The Community Development Specialist noted that the two issues the Council has been addressing in reviewing the final consideration of the proposed Time of Sale Ordinance is the issue of how buyers and sellers can negotiate to make the required corrections in the house if necessary and also the issue of whether or not compliance would be required if the house does not sell. Councilmember Peppe commented that he would like some type of check and balance in the ordinance and noted that an example would be the City would be notified if the buyer and seller negotiate to do the correction of hazardous items. He noted the other issue is one of whether or not corrections would be required if the house does not sell. Chairperson Torres suggested that once the City adopts the ordinance that it consider the creation of videos on how the ordinance is implemented and how it will work for homeowners. OTHER BUSINESS Commissioner Arm inquired whether there was an ordinance regarding limiting the number of family members in a house. Commissioner Erickson responded by noting that as long as the individuals are related there is no limit on the number of people in a household. They must however be family members. Chairperson Torres addressed an issue regarding communication with immigrant families and noted that the City should consider communicating housing safety issues such as egress windows, safety and maintenance etc. He noted that this would be a helpful item for those families who do not speak English. Commissioner Deuel brought up the issue of attendance and how this is now handled. The Community Development Specialist noted that he would bring in the language of the ordinance amendment to the next Housing Commission meeting. 5 -19 -98 -4- ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Deuel and seconded by Commissioner Erickson to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed. The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission adjourned at 8:25 p.m. Chairperson 5 -19 -98 -5-